Go Long Podcast

Two weeks to go, clarity is low. Very low.

This is exactly when you want to be looking your best as a Super Bowl contender, yet it’s hard to make sense of any teams on a week-to-week basis — especially in the AFC.

Without question, 2023 is the best shot teams have had at dethroning the Kansas City Chiefs since Patrick Mahomes assumed power. Even one AFC team that has upset KC (the Bengals) is missing its star quarterback.

We try to make sense of it all on the “Go Long Show.” Once again, I’m joined by former NFL personnel man Jim Monos.

Buffalo won an ugly 24-22 affair in L.A. against the JV Chargers. A true get-in-and-get-out game. Considering how this AFC is shaking out, wins are imperative... however you get ‘em. The Cleveland Browns will bring a special defense to the dance. Lamar Jackson’s numbers aren’t eye-popping but there’s a good chance he wins MVP again. The Ravens have the toughest roster, pound for pound. And let’s not forget about the Miami Dolphins. The team with the most yards (4,126) and most points (463) this 2023 season needed to learn how to grime out a win vs. a playoff team. This was an impressive finish against Dallas.

Miami and Buffalo may be on quite a collision course in the regular-season finale.

Audio and video of this episode are both available in this post, and at Apple, Spotify, everywhere you pod.

Thanks, all.

ICYMI...

Jordan Love is the answer at QB. Now, about everything else...

'Keep dreaming, baby!' Why the Cincinnati Bengals can contend with Jake Browning

Our 3rd Annual All-Old School Team!

Bills-Dolphins. This AFC East title game is loaded with drama from both points of view.

Stefon Diggs could combust for 150 yards and two touchdowns. To reach the Super Bowl, Buffalo unquestionably needs their star wide receiver — in full. This game could also serve as a tipping point for a messy offseason. Much is at stake.

Jordan Love vs. Justin Fields. Is the Green Bay Packers quarterback capable of overcoming a potential defensive calamity? Whereas last season’s Week 18 game at Lambeau Field felt like The End, this one could be The Beginning of something special. The grass was always green on the other side.

How should the Chicago Bears, armed with the No. 1 pick, proceed at quarterback? Fields has played better of late, but let’s not forget the tension from earlier this season. It was telling. And it’s worth noting the revamped power structure.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ sinking ship.

Miami’s injuries.

Aaron Rodgers theatrics.

Everything is discussed on our latest Happy Hour with Go Long subscribers from across the country. Thank you to everyone who carved out an hour and a half on a Friday night — sharp questions/thoughts the entire session. We’ll record many more of these into the offseason. What a great chance for us to hang out — often with a former NFL player, too. This episode, my podcast co-host Jim Monos joined the call and shared his always-excellent insight. You’ll get a front-office perspective on all the above.

Audio is available here at Go Long, and in the Apple and Spotify podcast feeds.

Paid subscribers always have access to join all Zoom Happy Hours.

Is there a player you would like to hang out with? Let me know at [email protected], and I’ll track him down.

Thanks, all.

Past Happy Hours:

Our chat on "The McDermott Problem"

Steve Calhoun (Jordan Love’s private QB coach)

John Hansen

Andrew Brandt

Peter King

Warren Moon

Isaiah McKenzie

Bob McGinn

Rob Johnson

Jamal Lewis

T.J. Lang

Jamaal Williams

Stevie Johnson

Richie Incognito

Wyatt Teller

Doug Whaley

Isaiah Likely

Stevie Johnson

Eric Wood

LeRoy Butler

Bob McGinn & Jim...

GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Forty-eight hours ahead of wild-card weekend, make sure all chores are completed and your schedule is clear. There’s a very good chance you won’t be that interested in leaving your recliner.

The NFL playoffs begin Saturday and I cannot remember a better slate to kick things off. It’s a blend of future Hall of Famers, revenge games, inclement weather, brewing upsets and fan bases that’ve been dying to host a playoff game.

Love from Hagemeister Park in downtown Green Bay, here’s the latest Go Long Show. My co-host has worked in the front offices of these playoff teams, too.

Patrick Mahomes vs. Tua Tagovailoa, and the long-term implications.

What does Jim Schwartz have cookin’ for rookie C.J. Stroud? The environment will be electric in Houston.

Packers-Cowboys. Does Monos see the same thing as Bob McGinn?

Why Monos is in on the Los Angeles Rams. He sees some damning numbers concerning the upstart Lions.

Weather could get funky in KC and Buffalo. Mike Tomlin finds ways to keep games close, too. But the Bills prepared for a game like this offense.

The Philadelphia Eagles are a disaster at the worst time.

Wink Martindale shows us all why the “mutual parting of ways” is never so eloquent.

Pete Carroll became the last man at the party dancing. Good on Seattle for making a tough decision in the best interest of the franchise.

The Go Long Show is accessible here and everywhere you pod, including Apple and Spotify.

Audio is above. Video is below.

Thanks, all.

ICYMI, here is Brett Favre on Jordan Love, why he sees the Packers as a dangerous team, Cowboys memories, seeing “ghosts,” and what’s possibly be going through Mike McCarthy’s mind knowing one loss could prompt Jerry Jones to fire him:

It was only a matter of time. Stefon Diggs is back in the news with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith dropping quite a nugget.

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver denied that he wants out of Buffalo. That’s expected. So, how should we process this all? (Let’s not take every comment from every player/coach as gospel, either.)

Also, the Buffalo Bills’ starters were embarrassed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 2023 dress rehearsal. We decipher what matters and what doesn’t with co-host Jim Monos. There are a few concerns the Bills must monitor.

Jonathan Taylor wants OUT. Will he get his wish? It’s complicated.

Also, we discuss Joe Schoen. The New York Giants general manager was born for this job, and I’ll have a longform story soon at Go Long for subscribers.

You can listen to the audio above, watch the video below or access the Go Long Podcast anywhere you get pods. We record live at Fattey Beer Company in Hamburg, NY.

A lot has changed since the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs staged an all-time classic in the 2021 divisional round of the playoffs. Specifically, the philosophy of this Bills offense.

The result, however, did not.

Kansas City edged Buffalo, 27-24, on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium. Make it five straight crushing defeats in the postseason. This one will sting all offseason because this was the year to catch Patrick Mahomes. The Bills had the Chiefs in their house this time. The Bills (allegedly) were welcoming in a stammering Chiefs offense.

So much for that.

Mahomes proved inevitable. (Again.) And the Bills continue to waste the prime of Josh Allen’s career. (Not ideal.)

Round ‘n round we go, as this Bills season ends like all the previous Bills season. We break down the game here on the Go Long Show and I’ll also have a story live soon for Go Long subscribers.

Miss the three-part series from last month? All links are right here. The Bills should be asking themselves hard questions right away this offseason.

Part I: Blame Game

Part II: Lost in translation

Part III: Let Josh be Josh

Thank you for reading and listening, everyone.

Be on the lookout for full coverage of the AFC and NFC Championships. Heading to Detroit this week to see how in the heck Dan Campbell’s crew took all that DNA and built a potential Super Bowl team.